Houston unemployment rate dips in March

Updated 10:47 am, Friday, April 19, 2013

Houston area employers added 102,300 jobs between March 2012 and March 2013, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday. That reflects a 3.8 percent year over year increase.

The commission also reported that the Houston area unemployment rate dipped to 6.1 percent in March, down from 6.3 percent in February. The local unemployment rate is not adjusted for typical seasonal shifts such as school holidays that affect hiring and firing patterns.

The statewide rate, however, is adjusted for those seasonal patterns and in Texas, the unemployment rate for March was unchanged at 6.4 percent. It remains below the national jobless rate of 7.6 percent.